The 2026 World Cup is underway, and with one match played for each of the 48 teams, it's time to take a closer look at the power rankings. While the title favorites remain largely the same, there have been some shocks and surprises that have shaken up the rankings. From teams that are just happy to be there to true title contenders, let's dive into the full rankings and explore the stories behind each team's performance.
World Cup Teams That Are Just Happy to Be Here
These teams are in the bottom tier, and while they may not have performed as expected, they are still in the tournament and have a chance to improve.
Tunisia: After firing their coach following a poor performance, Tunisia finds itself at the bottom of the rankings. The team needs a turnaround, and with a new coach, they may be able to turn things around.
Curacao: Curacao suffered a heavy defeat against Germany, but they still managed to score a goal. The team will look to build on this performance and improve in their next match.
Jordan: Jordan had a decent showing against Austria in its World Cup debut, but the team knows that things will only get tougher from here. They will need to step up their game to avoid an early exit.
South Africa: South Africa had an extremely disappointing performance in the opener, offering almost nothing. With red-card suspensions, the team will need to find a way to turn things around quickly.
Iraq: Aymen Hussein scored for Iraq, but the team struggled against Norway, falling 4-1. They will need to improve their defense and offense to avoid another loss.
Panama: Panama let a clean sheet and its first-ever World Cup point slip from its hands, conceding a late winner to Ghana. A healthy Coco Carrasquilla would be very welcome.
Paraguay: Paraguay's defense was supposed to be its strength, but it shipped four goals in the first match of the tournament. The team will need to find a way to improve its defense and offense.
Qatar: Qatar secured a point against Switzerland thanks to an own goal in stoppage time. While the performance wasn't all that impressive, the team will look to build on this result and improve in its next match.
World Cup Teams That Could Get Out of Group Play
These teams are in the middle tier, and while they may not have performed as expected, they still have a chance to advance to the knockout rounds.
Czechia: After letting South Korea back into the game, Czechia will need to step up its game against South Africa to decide who will still have a shot at moving on.
Haiti: Haiti looked like its normal, active self but couldn't find the back of the net against Scotland. With forward Duckens Nazon nursing a hamstring issue, the team will need to find a way to score goals.
New Zealand: Chris Wood caused all sorts of problems for Iran, and if the tall forward can do the same once more in the group, there's a chance to move on.
Cape Verde: Cape Verde enjoyed a stunning scoreless draw with Spain and then started following goalkeeper Vozinha on Instagram. What a story.
Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia has tripped up a team from the Rio de la Plata region in the first World Cup matches, drawing Uruguay. Can they do enough to get through this time?
Algeria: Algeria stopped Lionel Messi and Argentina, and advancing from the group is still on the table. The team will need to improve its defense and offense to avoid another loss.
Uzbekistan: Uzbekistan lost to Colombia 3-1 but went down fighting and managed to find a debut World Cup goal. The team will look to build on this performance and improve in its next match.
Iran: Iran wasn't able to get all three points in a draw with New Zealand, but they at times showed why they're among the top teams in Asia. The team will need to improve its offense to avoid another draw.
Bosnia & Herzegovina: Bosnia's formula for success isn't exactly pretty, but ugly worked in a group-opening draw with Canada. The team will look to build on this performance and improve in its next match.
DR Congo: A very good draw with Portugal for the Léopards, as Yoane Wissa responded to Portugal's early goal and the defense was characteristically stingy. The team will look to build on this performance and improve in its next match.
Scotland: Scotland was able to beat Haiti in a cagey affair that saw each team put just two shots on goal. More will be needed to finish in the top two.
Egypt: Mo Salah got help from forward Omar Marmoush and goal scorer Emam Ashour in an encouraging draw with Belgium. The team will look to build on this performance and improve in its next match.
World Cup Teams That Could Make Some Noise in Knockout Rounds
These teams are in the upper tier, and while they may not have performed as expected, they still have a chance to make a deep run in the tournament.
Turkey: Things couldn't have gone much worse for Turkey in its opener, which needs to create more effective chances rather than offering up hopeless, low-percentage shots. The team will need to step up its game to avoid an early exit.
Ghana: A dramatic late goal rescued three points against Panama, but Ghana struggled to do much with the ball and also gave the Central Americans some good chances to score. The team will need to improve its offense and defense.
Canada: Canada looked tense in its opener, settling for a draw with Bosnia and Herzegovina. It's a first-ever World Cup point, but the ambitions are much higher. The team will need to step up its game to avoid an early exit.
Sweden: Sweden's attack delivered on its promise in the 5-1 thrashing of Tunisia. Now, it's about doing it against a team at a higher level. The team will need to improve its defense and offense.
Australia: The Socceroos executed Tony Popovic's game plan brilliantly in a 2-0 win over Turkey, getting forward quickly on the counter-attack and defending in a disciplined way. The team will look to build on this performance and improve in its next match.
Uruguay: Uruguay better hope it was its travel issues that had it looking as lethargic as it did in a 1-1 draw with Saudi Arabia to open the tournament. Otherwise, Marcelo Bielsa's side soon will be traveling home. The team will need to step up its game to avoid an early exit.
Switzerland: The gut-punch of a late goal from Qatar drops Switzerland in our rankings, as what looked like a clear path to a group win now is much more muddled. The team will need to improve its defense and offense.
Austria: Austria reminded the world how faithful it is to its style as it buzzed around in a 3-1 win over Jordan. It will be harder to do the same thing against Argentina. The team will need to step up its game to avoid an early exit.
South Korea: A huge question was whether or not anyone would step up to help Son Heung-min with chance creation and other attacking duties. After a MOTM showing from Hwang In-beom in a 2-1 win over Czechia, the answer is more clear. The team will look to build on this performance and improve in its next match.
World Cup Dark Horses
These teams are in the top tier, and while they may not have performed as expected, they still have a chance to make a deep run in the tournament.
Ecuador: They were unlucky to lose against Ivory Coast, and an eight-place drop is pretty harsh. Yet, a finish from Enner Valencia − or anyone else − would've avoided putting La Tri in the tough situation they're now in. The team will need to step up its game to avoid an early exit.
Ivory Coast: Les Elefants hung around, hung around, hung around and got a breakthrough from breakout star Yan Diomande. The team will look to build on this performance and improve in its next match.
Colombia: The final game of the first go-round, Colombia's 3-1 win over Uzbekistan was a lot of fun, but it showed us what we thought we'd see from Los Cafeteros: Some good individual talents and some glaring problem areas. The team will need to step up its game to avoid an early exit.
Japan: Japan played a relatively balanced game in a 2-2 draw with the Netherlands, showing they can come out of their shell and fight to a result when necessary. The team will look to build on this performance and improve in its next match.
Morocco: Achraf Hakimi not only has a clean bill of health but contributed often in a 1-1 draw with Brazil, and Brahim Diaz connected with Ismael Saibari on the goal. All good signs for the North African nation. The team will look to build on this performance and improve in its next match.
Belgium: Rudi Garcia didn't set up his team quite right in a 1-1 draw with Egypt, and rather than a showcase of Jérémy Doku and other rising stars' talents, it turned into concern about whether or not the veteran players can hang. The team will need to step up its game to avoid an early exit.
Senegal: It seems harsh to drop Senegal too far after a loss to a team as powerful as France, especially since the Lions of Teranga hung tough with Les Bleus for more than an hour. The team will look to build on this performance and improve in its next match.
Mexico: El Tri could've won their opener by more, but a 2-0 win against South Africa sets the tone for a tournament in which Mexico hopes to continue delighting home fans. The team will look to build on this performance and improve in its next match.
Portugal: The fix for Portugal to get back into the contenders tier is relatively clear: Work out a way to reduce Cristiano Ronaldo's role, as he held the team back in a 1-1 draw with DR Congo. Until then, the team may keep slipping. The team will need to step up its game to avoid an early exit.
Norway: When does the dark horse simply become a horse? Erling Haaland was relentless in his World Cup debut, and the defense regrouped well after conceding in the 4-1 win over Iraq. The team will look to build on this performance and improve in its next match.
United States: Should Americans start dreaming of a quarterfinal finish? It's within their grasp, and the 4-1 romp over Paraguay showed why. Still, better opponents are coming. The team will need to step up its game to avoid an early exit.
World Cup Contenders
Brazil: Brazil could've done better in its draw with Morocco to open the World Cup, but keeps its spot thanks to the rally to earn a point and the clear areas for quick improvement. The team will look to build on this performance and improve in its next match.
Netherlands: The depth may not be there for Ronald Koeman's team. We knew that about the attack, but seeing the defense also commit errors in a 2-2 draw with Japan was a major concern. The team will need to step up its game to avoid an early exit.
Germany: It's tough to get too excited about a win over Curacao, but Julian Nagelsmann's squad took care of business in match one. That's more than some of its rivals can say. The team will look to build on this performance and improve in its next match.
Spain: Spain stays in the contender tier because the group calculations didn't change with a 0-0 draw against Cape Verde. Lamine Yamal is still working back to fitness, too. That said, a point against a small debutant doesn't meet the standard our former No. 1 should be held to. The team will need to step up its game to avoid an early exit.
England: It was a great start to the tournament for England, with Harry Kane scoring twice and the squad putting together a superb second half in a 4-2 win over Croatia. The team will look to build on this performance and improve in its next match.
Argentina: Lionel Messi is fit and he is fantastic. The defending champs made a statement in a 3-0 win over Algeria, but even with the team keeping a clean sheet, there are defensive questions. Austria will provide a good test next. The team will look to build on this performance and improve in its next match.
France: It took more than an hour for the goal to come, but once France clicked into gear it put three past a good Senegal defense, with a 3-1 win enough to move into the top of our rankings. The team will look to build on this performance and improve in its next match.
